Spool



Dec. 18, 1951 J. P. LOCKE ET AL SPOOL Filed July 29, 1950 Wm M Patented Dec. 18, 1951 SPOOL John P. Locke, University City, Edmund W. Mc-

Lean, Webster Groves, and Loren 'Farquhar Bridge, Kirkwood, Mo., assignors to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, St. Louis, Mo.,a corporation Application July 29, 1950, Serial No. 176,726

8"Claims. 1

This invention relates to spools, and more particularly to twister spools such as are used on the spindles of twisting apparatus.

Heretofore, it has been customary to use twist er spools of Wooden construction for winding yarn in twisting apparatus. The most generally accepted mode of driving such spools has been to provide a keyway milled in the bottom face of the spool 'for receiving the usualdriving key on a spindle whorl of the twisting apparatus. This type of drive is practicable only if there is a sufiicient thickness of material in the spools so that a keyway of adequate depth may be milled without structurally weakening the spool. Most wooden spools of this class have a wooden barrel which extends into the bottom head of the spool, the lower portion of the barrel sometimes being shouldered. The keyway is milled in the lower end of the barrel and usually is of greater length than the diameter of the barrel so that it also involves milling of the bottom head. This requires that the bottom head be made of considerable thickness so that it is not seriously weakened by the milling of the keyway.

The object of this invention is to provide a drive arrangement wherein the spool is provided with a keyway to receive the driving key on a spindle whorl without requiring the provision of a thick head on the bottom of the spOOl, with the construction also such as to provide a tail retainer for receiving a number of turns of yarn at the start of winding on the spool to provide a tail of yarn which can be unwound from the tail retainer and knotted .to the leading end of the yarn wound on a second spool for continuous unwindcured to the spoolagainst the outer face of the head with their undercut arcuate sides narrowing toward the head, and with their chordal sides on opposite sides of the axis of the spool and generally parallel to one another. With this construction, the opposed chordal sides of the elements define a keyway for receiving a driving key, and atail of yarn maybe wound aroundthe arcuate sides, the convolutions of the tail being prevented from slipping off by reason .of .the

" metal barrel l.

undercut of the arcuate sides. Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated:

Fig. 1 is a centrallong'itudinal section of a spool embodying the invention, taken on line I--l of Fig. 2; r

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the Fig. 1 spool;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the Fig. l spool; and,

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a combination drive lug and tail retainer element of the spool.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, a spoolof this invention is shown to comprise a tubular cylindrical Fixed in the ends of the barrel are cup-shaped metal members 3 which support an arbor 5 extending centrally through the barrel and projecting out of the barrel at its ends. Each member 3 has a circular .base I and a cylindrical wall 9 fitting in the barrel. The arbor 5 extends through central openings in the bases 1 of the respective members 3. The latter are fitted in the ends of the barrel with their bases 1 spaced inward from the respective ends of the barrel and their cylindrical walls 9 extending outward to the ends of the barrel. The members 3 are secured in the barrel as by spot welding their cylindrical walls 9 to the barrel. The arbor 5 is secured in place .as by being force-fitted within a flange ll around the centralopening in one of the members 3 (herein lillustrated as the upper member 3).

At I3 is shown the upper head oflthe spool. As illustrated, this consists of .a disk of any suitable hard plastic material having a central opening l5 receiving the end of the arbor 5 projecting from the upper end of the barrel. The head [3 is held against/the upper end of the barrel by means of self-tapping metal screws I! which extend through openings IS in the head and which are threaded in openings 2| in the base 1 of the upper member 3. The openings l9 are countersunk to receive the heads of the screws. At 23 is shown the lower head of the spool. Asillustrated, :this consists sof a relatively .thin. disk .of

hard plastic material having a central opening 25 receiving the lower end of the arbor projecting from the lower end of the barrel. As shown, the upper head I3 is of smaller diameter than the lower head 23, yarn being unwound over the upper head. The lower head 23 is held against the lower end of the barrel by means of self-tapping metal screws 21 which extend through openings in combination drive lug and tail retainer elements 29 and through openings in the head and which are threaded in openings 3| in the base I of the lower member 3.

The combination drive lug and tail retainer elements 29 constitute the essential feature of this invention. As shown, there are, two such elements, these being identical. Each element 29 is molded as a one-piece body of elastomeric material, i. e., rubber or the like, preferably a hard, oil-resistant synthetic rubber, such as a high styrene copolymerjresin, generally in the outline of a segment of a circle on a chord, and

thereby having a substantially straight chordal.

side 30 and an arcuate side 33. As shown, the arcuate side 33 of each element 29 is undercut. The two elements 29 are secured'to the spool against the outer face of the head with their undercut arcuate sides 33 narrowing toward the head (see Fig. 1), with their chordal sides 30 on opposite sides of the axis of the spool and generally parallel to one another so as to define a keyway 34 (see Figs. 1 and 3), and with their arcuate sides centered in the axis of the spool.

More particularly,'each element 29is formed to have afiat base portion 35 of the outline of a segment of a circle on a chord, this segment being somewhat less than a full semi-circle, with an arcuate ridge 3'! projecting generally axially from one face of the base 35 (the outer face in respect to spool head 23) at its arcuate side 33, this ridge being so formed as to have an outwardly projecting rim 39 overhanging the arcuate side 33 of the base 35, and thereby giving the arcuate side of the element 29 its undercut form. The ridge 3'! is of full cross-section from one end of the arcuate side 33 of the element 29 around a major portion of its arcuate side 33, the remainder of the ridge tapering off toward the face of the base as indicated at 4! so that there is no undercut at the other end of the arcuate side 33. Each element is provided with countersunk openings 43 in its base for the screws 21, and with an arcuate notch 45 at the center of its chordal side 30, the edgeof the notch preferably being of conical form diverging away from the ridged face of the base 35 toward its fiat face 31.

The elements 29 are secured to the spool with their flat faces engaged against the outer face.

of the head 23 by means of the screws '21, which extend through the openings 43 in the elements 29 and aligned openings in the head 23, and which are threaded in the openings 3| in the base 1 of the lower member 3. The elements 29 are so positioned that their chordal sides 30 are opposed to one another on opposite sides of the axis of the spool, thereby defining the keyway 34 for receiving a driving key. This keyway, as

illustrated, is narrower than the inside diameter of arbor 5, but notches 45 clear the end of the arbor to receive a spindle of the twisting apparatus on which the spool is applied. The rims 33 are spaced away from the head 23 so as to define in conjunction therewith a tail-receiving groove 49 in which a number of turns of yarn may be wound withoutslipping off.

It will beseen that since the two-elements 29-- are secured to the spool in opposed relation, the tapered end M of the ridge 3'! of one element is opposed to the untapered end of the ridge 3! of the other element. Spools of this invention as illustrated are to be used on twister spindles which drive the spools clockwise as viewed in Fig. 3, so that the tapered ends 4| of the ridges are the trailing ends of the ridges as regards the direction of rotation of the ridges. With this arrangement, the leading and untapered end of the ridge of either element 29 serves as a hook so that the spool tender, in starting a tail of yarn winding on the tail retainer, can funnel the yarn into the groove provided by the undercut of thearcuate edges of the elements 29. After the tail has been wound, the yarn is jumped over the rim of the lower head 23 and wound on the barrel l of the spool proper. To prevent precessing of the loop of yarn leading over the rim of the lower head to the barrel 1 during winding, the rim of the lower head maybe provided with diagonal grooves 5!, any one of which may catch the loop to prevent precessing.

The use of the combination drive lug and tail retainer elements of this invention makes it unnecessary to mill a groove in the lower end of a spool to receive a driving key, and hence makes possible the use of a relatively thin head at the lower end of the spool. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of any particular materials for the spool barrel, the spool heads, or the elements 29, although it may be preferable to make the elements 29 of oilresistant elastomeric material to withstand severe usage to which twister spools of the type disclosed are usually subjected without appreciable damage due to their resilience, and to withstand deteriorationwhich might otherwise be caused by oil spattered on the elements from.

the twister frame. I

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the abov constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A spool comprising a barrel having a head at one end, and a pair of combination drive lug and tail retainer elements, each of said elements being formed generally in the outline of a segment of a circle on a chord, and thereby having a substantially straight chordal side and an arcuate side, the arcuate side of each element being undercut, said elements being secured to the spool against the outer face of the head with their undercut arcuate sides narrowing toward the head and with their chordal sides on opposite sides of the axis of the spool and generally parallel to one another and thereby d'efining a keyway for receiving a driving key.

2 A spool comprising a barrel having a head at one end, and a pair of combination drive lug and tail retainer elements, each of said elements being formed generally in the outline of a segment of a circle on a chord, and thereby havin a substantially straight chordal side and an arcuate side, the elements being secured to the spool against the outer face of the head with their chordal sides on opposite sides of the axis of the spool and generally parallel to one another to define a keyway, and with their arcuate sides centered in the axis of the spool, each element having a radially outwardly projecting rim. at its arcuate side spaced from the outer face of the head so as to provide a groove for receiving a tail of yarn.

3. A spool comprisin a barrel having a head at one end, and a pair of combination drive lug and tail retainer elements, each of said elements being formed generally in the outline of a segment of a circle on a chord, and thereby having a substantially straight chordal sideand an arcuate side, the elements being secured to the spool against the outer face of the head with their chordal sides on opposite sides of the axis of the spool and enerally parallel to one another to define a keyway, and with their arcuate sides centered in the axis of the spool, each element having a radially outwardly projecting rim at its arcuate side spaced from the outer face of the head so as to provide a groove for receiving a tail of yarn, the rim of each element extending from one end of its arcuate side around a portion of said side and then tapering off, the elements being arranged so that the untapered end of the rim of one element is opposed to the tapered end of the rim of the other element.

4. A spool comprising a barrel having a head at one end, and a pair of combination drive ins and tail retainer elements, each of said elements having a flat base shaped generally in the outline of a segment of a circle on a chord, and thereby having a substantially straight chordal side and an arcuate side, with an arcuate ridge projecting generally axially from one face of the base at its arcuate side, the ridge having a radially faces of their respective bases engaged against 1 the outer face of the head with their chordal sides on opposite sides of the axis of the spool and generally parallel to one another, thereby defining a keyway, and with their arcuate sides centered in the axis of the spool.

5. A spool comprising a barrel having a head at one end, and a pair of combination drive lug and tail retainer elements, each of said elements having a flat base shaped generally in the outline of a segment of a circle on a chord, and thereby having a substantially straight chordal side and an arcuate side, with an arcuate ridge projecting generally axially from one face of the base at its arcuate side, the ridge having a radially outwardly extending rim overhanging the arcuate side of the base, thereby making the arcuate side as a whole of the element of undercut form, the elements being secured with the other faces of their respective bases. engaged against the outer face of the head with their chordal sides on opposite sides of the axis of the spool and generally parallel to one another, thereby definin a keyway, and with their arcuate sides centered in the axis of the spool, the ridge and rim of each element being of full cross-section from one end of its arcuate side around a major portion of said side and then tapering oiT, the elements being arranged so that the untapered end of the ridge and rim of one element is opposed to the tapered end of the ridge and rim of the other element.

6. A combination drive lug and tail retainer element for use on a spool comprising a onepiece body shaped generally in the outline of a segment of a circle on a chord and thereby having a chordal side and an arcuate side, the arcuate side of the element being undercut.

7. A combination drive lug and tail retainer element for use on a spool comprising a onepiece body having a flat base shaped generally in the outline of a segment of a circle on a chord, thereby having a substantially straight chordal side and an arcuate side, and an arcuate ridge projecting generally axially from one face of the base at its arcuate side, the ridge havin a radially outwardly extending rim.

8. A combination drive lug and tail retainer element for use on a spool comprising a onepiece body having a flat base shaped generally in the outline of a segment of a circle on a chord, thereby having a substantially straight chordal side and an arcuate side, and an arcuate ridge projecting generally axially from one face of the base at its arcuate side, the ridge having a radially outwardly extendin rim, the ridge and rim being of full cross-section from one end of the arcuate side around a major portion of the side and then tapering off.

JOHN P. LOCKE. EDMUND W. McLEAN. LOREN FARQUHAR BRIDGE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Clinton July 28, 1936 Number 

